Saudi Arabia has reached a grim new milestone in 2025, executing 340 people so far this year, marking the kingdom’s highest annual total on record. Authorities confirmed that three more individuals were put to death on Monday, according to an AFP tally. This surpasses the 338 executions carried out in 2024 and marks the second consecutive year Saudi Arabia has broken its own record since rights groups began tracking executions in the 1990s.
The kingdom consistently ranks behind only China and Iran in the number of executions carried out, highlighting the ongoing prevalence of capital punishment in its judicial system. While the Saudi government presents these actions as part of strict law enforcement, human rights groups continue to condemn the approach as excessive, opaque, and often disproportionate.
The majority of the executions this year, 232 out of 340, have been for drug-related offenses. Analysts attribute this surge to Saudi Arabia’s ongoing war on drugs, launched in 2023. Many individuals arrested during previous crackdowns are only now reaching the end of lengthy legal proceedings, resulting in a sharp increase in executions this year.
Executions for drug offenses had been suspended for about three years but resumed at the end of 2022. This resumption coincides with the kingdom’s intensified efforts to curb the trafficking of captagon, a potent stimulant that was once Syria’s largest export under Bashar al-Assad. Since the launch of this campaign, Saudi authorities have set up more police checkpoints on highways and at border crossings. Millions of pills have been confiscated and dozens of traffickers arrested. Foreigners appear to be disproportionately affected by these measures, underscoring the international implications of the crackdown.
Saudi Arabia’s aggressive approach to drug-related crimes is framed as part of a broader strategy to maintain social order and public safety, yet it raises serious ethical and legal questions. Rights organizations have criticized the kingdom for the lack of transparency in its judicial process. Concerns include confessions extracted under duress and limited access to legal representation. These criticisms come as Saudi Arabia continues to project a modern image internationally, creating a stark contrast between its public image and its judicial practices.
The use of the death penalty also reflects deeper societal and political dynamics. For decades, Saudi Arabia has employed capital punishment not only as a tool for justice but also as a demonstration of state authority. While the government emphasizes deterrence and law enforcement, critics argue that the frequent executions, particularly for non-violent offenses such as drug crimes, amount to excessive punishment.
International attention to Saudi Arabia’s record-breaking executions is increasing. Human rights organizations, foreign governments, and media outlets continue to monitor developments closely. The surge in executions in 2025 adds pressure on the kingdom to align its strict enforcement policies with international human rights standards. Observers also warn that high execution numbers may affect diplomatic relations, foreign investment, and Saudi Arabia’s efforts to present a reform-minded image under its Vision 2030 initiative.
As the kingdom continues to carry out executions at record levels, the world watches closely. The war on drugs and the broader use of the death penalty highlight the tension between enforcing the law and meeting international human rights expectations. The 340 executions in 2025, and the growing trend over the past two years, reveal a judiciary that is both uncompromising and controversial, a reality that will continue to spark debate both at home and abroad.
